What was the nature of Akhenaten's religious beliefs?
During the XVIIIth Dynasty of New Kingdom Egypt (1550-1295BC), Amun became known as the 'King of Gods'. He was the father of the Pharaoh and the ruler of conquered lands. Religious belief was tied into every aspect of New Kingdom society. Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV, 1353-1337) completely changed the nature of this society - he proclaimed the Aten as the sole god of Egypt and abolished all others. Although different forms of sun worship had existed since the Vth dynasty, Akhenaten's religious reforms were completely new to Egypt. The Pharaoh moved the capital, changed burial practices and introduced a new style of art that was used in representations of the royal family worshipping the Aten. The Amarna age, as it is known, was short lived. After the death of the king all traces of Atenism were abolished and the kingdom was quickly restored to its former state, under the watchful eye of Amun.
A thousand years prior to the reign of Akhenaten the sun god is mentioned in the pyramid texts. Early worship of the sun god in the form of the Aten can be traced back to the reign of Amenemhat I (1963-1943), whom upon his death was said to have been united with the Aten on the horizon, and during the reign of Amenhotep II (1427-1401) the image of the Aten as the sun disc with extended arms first appeared. In the reign of Thutmose IV (1401-1391) the Aten became known as the exalted god of the sky , but it was Amenhotep III (1391-1353), father of Amenhotep IV, who first gave the Aten a prominent position within the Egyptian pantheon. Under his rule the name of the Aten was given to a palace ('The Aten is Resplendent'), the state barge ('Radiance of the Aten), an army corps, and...
More Ancient Egypt
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Assess the impact of Akhenaten's reign on religion and art.
... important god and asserting his new form of state religion. It can also be noted that the cult of the sun disk, Aten, which was an aspect of Re worship, had flourished under his father Amenhotep III. This resulted in Akhenaten ...
"Akhenaten's impact on religion, art and building was significant, but temporary"
... father Amenhotep III ). A modified emphasis on different gods and cults was quite normal but Akhenaten once established in power, altered the entire emphasis from traditional ways to the worship of Aten (Sun god) in ...
Queens of the Ramesside Dynasty in New Kingdom Egypt
... be worshipped. Tiy was the mother of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and the grandmother of Tutankhamun. It is interesting to note that the occurrence of her name with that of Amenhotep III throughout the written ...
Assess Tutankhamun's tomb for what it reveals about New Kingdom Egyptian Society.
... about the burial customs, role of the king, religious beliefs, leisurely pursuits and food of New Kingdom Egypt. Being so intact when Carter made the discovery, the shrine of Tutankhamun ...
The Importance of the Pharaoh in New Kingdom Egyptian Society
... propaganda, depicting themselves as necessary and important in many aspects of Egyptian life and instilling themselves in religious practices, the Kings of New Kingdom Egypt were able to maintain their dominant and powerful role in ...
Explain the religious changes of Akhenaten
... as Pharaoh during the 19th Dynasty. Most prominent of these was the initiation of a religious revolution, including the transition from traditional Egyptian religious beliefs of polytheism towards Akhenatens new brand of monotheism. In this new religion the sole god ...
Akhenatens drastic changes made to religion upturned the Egyptians way of life
... importance of family to him. This excluded the common people from worshiping a god though. This religious reform changed the traditional relationship between the king and the gods, as Akhenaten was the only person who could communicate with the Aten this ...
Pharaoh Akhenaton (Amenhotep IV). Who was he? was he an eventful or event-making pharaoh? What did he do to Egypt during his rule? What resulted? Where did he focus mainly during his reign.
... a new concept of monotheism , as the sun being the god's symbol. Akhenaton believed that "Aton" was was the sole creator of the universe and was a universal omni-present spirit. Akhenaton was the only priest and people worshipped Aton ...